The Rev. Raymond Cole is serving as Interim Rector for St. John's while we complete the process of calling a new rector to our parish.
Raymond Cole was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where he lived until the seventh grade, when his family moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He holds a B.A. from Lehigh University and a M.Div. From the General Theological Seminary. He was ordained deacon and later priest in 1963. In the same year, he married his wife Keena. The Coles have three adult sons: twins Chris and Craig, born in 1966, and Raymond III, born in 1974.
If you have been to the Bishop Jones Center, you may already know Keena, who works part-time with Betty Chumney in the World Missions Department. She served as Bishop Hibb’s administrative assistant during the year before he retired. Fr. Raymond has served five congregations: Grace Church, Mt. Airy, Philadelphia (curate, 1963-1966); Church of the Epiphany, Royersford, Pennsylvania (vicar, 1966-1973); Church of the Good Samaritan, Pailo, Pennsylvania (1973-1979); St. Mark’s Church, Glen Ellyn, Illinois (rector, 1979-1996), and St. George Church, San Antonio (rector, 1996-2004), from which he retired. He has been Interim Rector at two other churches: St. Philip’s, Uvalde, and Trinity Church, Victoria.
During nearly 44 years of ministry, he worked on Diocesan committees in these capacities: Youth Ministry, Cursillo, Resolutions committee, Spiritual Growth, Budget, Parish Consultation, and Episcopal Schools Commission, to name a few. In addition, several years ago, he and Keena were National Executive Clergy Couple for the Episcopal expression of Marriage Encounter. Currently he serves as the Bishop’s Deputy for Episcopal Schools and was recently asked to co-chair with Bishop Reed a committee to explore the possibility of introducing the Vocational Deaconate in the Diocese of West Texas.
Fr. Ray admits to spending most of his life in“Yankee-land.” He met Keena–born and bred in Corpus Christi–in New York City during his senior year at seminary and had the good sense to marry her, with the mission of making a Yankee out of her. As it turned out, when they moved to Texas from Chicago and crossed the state line, she soon made a Texan out of him. Says Fr. Ray, “One of our missions in life is to see a professional baseball game in every major league park. We are Cubs fans–so we know how to live with and survive frustration.”
In her role as Lay Associate for Youth & Family Ministries, Carrie coordinates the activities directly related to youth ministries and many of the fellowship and mission trip activities designed for families and youth. She is responsible for coordinating the children and youth Christian Education curriculum. She also leads youth confirmation classes and coordinates the Wednesday Witness youth program. 
Melissa's responsibilities include production of communication material for the church (newsletters, bulletins, weekly Take Home Page, etc.), managing the church calendar and other related tasks. If you need to schedule events at the church, make announcements reagarding church activities or add someone to the prayer list, contact Melissa.
Monica's responsibilities include processing financial transactions for the church.
